Arike Ogunbowale scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points Wednesday night as the Dallas Wings beat the Golden State Valkyries 108-100 in overtime in Arlington, Texas, forcing a deciding Game 3 in their first-round series. Her late 3-pointer tied the score in regulation, and she hit two more from beyond the arc in overtime to seal the win.
A record-setting finish
With 4.1 seconds left in regulation, Ogunbowale hit an off-balance corner 3-pointer to tie the score at 93. Dallas stayed alive. Golden State’s last attempt missed after a scramble for the ball, sending the game into overtime.
The closing seconds featured a disputed call. After a Golden State timeout, officials called Gabby Williams for an offensive foul on the inbound play. Replay review overturned the call, denying Aziaha James a chance to put Dallas ahead at the free-throw line. Instead, the teams lined up for a jump ball at center court with 3.0 seconds left. Golden State’s desperation shot missed after the buzzer.
Ogunbowale opened overtime with a banked-in 3-pointer. She hit another with 1:46 remaining, giving Dallas a 103-100 lead it wouldn’t surrender. Her 45 points topped her previous playoff best of 24. The overtime 3 also pushed her past her overall high of 41 points. She scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, with 11 in each period.
Valkyries’ late scoring stops
Williams scored a career-high 36 points across regular-season and playoff games, but missed all six of her shots in the final 1:31 of overtime. She finished 12 of 23 from the field. Golden State went 2 of 12 in overtime and didn’t score again after Ogunbowale and Tiffany Hayes each made two free throws.
At 98-all in overtime, Ogunbowale and Hayes had to be separated after making contact. Officials assessed flagrant fouls to both players, and each made two free throws with 2:26 left. The Valkyries couldn’t answer. Dallas won by eight.
Alysha Clark matched her playoff career high with 21 points for Dallas. Aziaha James added 13. Kaila Charles scored 14 points for Golden State, and Kayla Thornton had 13. Cecilia Zandalasini, who led the Valkyries with 22 points in the series opener, managed just three shots and five points in Game 2.
Deciding game in San Francisco
The deciding game is scheduled for Friday night in San Francisco. Golden State won the series opener by 24 points and is seeking its first playoff advance in the franchise’s second season. Dallas’ overtime win kept the Valkyries from closing out the first-round series in two games.
Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year, scored 10 points in her postseason debut. She made 3 of 13 shots. The Wings and Valkyries now meet in the scheduled deciding game after splitting the first two games of the series.